Well, maybe Spring is upon us for a few days, giving us an opportunity to get out without bulky clothes. This week we have three visiting jazz artists (as well as Tony Bennett at the State on Thursday) and six visiting artists in blues and roots. Of course we also have resident artists such as the Atlantis Quartet and Wee Willie Walker, who are known throughout our nation, as well as in some parts of the world, and others who could be, with the right promotion. All of which makes for a rich tapestry of music for the coming week. Music Lifts the Spirit!

Laura Caviani & David Milne @ Crooners’ Dunsmore Room, Fridley. 7:30pm ($12-$15) Pianist Laura Caviani is busy these days, having released two Cds with her trio, taking on more responsibility teaching at St. Olaf, and appearing in other projects, such as this collaboration with saxophonist David Milne. Milne is a Professor of Music and director of Jazz Ensembles at the U of WI-River Falls. Here’s Laura with the title song from her latest CD.

Friday, May 11

Nathan Hanson’s Five Times Golden @ Jazz Central, Minneapolis. 8pm ($10, $5 w/Valid Student ID) Saxophonist Hanson is an adventurous musician who has played in far-flung places from Pittsburg to Slovenia, in addition to playing in numerous Twin Cities venues. He’ll be accompanied by long-time collaborator Doan Roessler on bass, as well as Devon Gray on piano, and Kismat Shrestha, drums. Her;’s Nathan with Dean Roessler.

The Music of Bill Evans @ Boom Island Brewing, Minneapolis. (Tip Jar) The MN Hard Bop Collective is reduced to a trio tonight as Graydon Peterson, bass; and Jesse Simon drums, join with the sensitive, yet swinging pianist Phil Aaron to perform the exquisite compositions of Bill Evans. Here’s Aaron with another classic.

Kate Lynch & Her Most Excellent Fellows @ The Aster Cafe, Minneapolis. 9pm ($10) This is the last event of a nine-month monthly residency for Ms Lynch and her Fellows. It’s vintage vocal jazz, with a few old pop tuns thrown in for good measure, delivered in front of a window facing the Minneapolis skyline. Though there is no dance floor as such, a few brave couples will occasionally respond to the groups; swingin’ tunes.

Monday, May 14

Arturo Sandoval @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($40, $45, $50), 9pm ($30, $35, $40) Trumpeter Sandoval was a one-time protege of Dizzy Gillespie and a founding member of the explosive, Grammy winning Cuban group Irakere. He left the group in the early 80s, and moved to Miami in the early 90s. Since then he’s earned 4 Grammys, 6 Billboard Awards, and an Emmy. His brilliance is evident whether performing Latin, Jazz, or Classical music.

World Jazz Collegium @ Jazz Central, Minneapolis. 8:30pm ($10, $5 w/Valid Student ID) Guitarist pavel Jany heads up this quartet, which includes John Croarkin, Dan Weston, and Beth Varela, along with special guest, pianist Steven Hobert. They meld elements of different world musics with jazz and classical music.

Tuesday, May 15

Lynne Arriale Trio @ Crooners’ Dunsmore Room, Fridley. 7:30pm ($25) Pianist Arriale has a new CD to, her 14th as a leader, and she’ll be celebrating its release with resident musicians Chris Bates on bass and Cory Healy on drums. The CD, “Give Us These Days,”was recorded in the Netherlands with a couple of Dutch musicians, and includes six originals and three arrangements, all of which reflect her sense of wonder and showcase her rich imagination and peerless playing.

Tuesday, Wednesday, May 15, 16

Terrance Blanchard & The E-Collective @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($40), 9pm ($25) The last time trumpeter Blanchard & the E Collective was in town, they were recording songs in cities where conflicts have arisen over police shootings of African Americans. They chose the Twin Cities after the death of Philando Castille. Now they’re touring on the April release of Live!, which features seven powerful songs from that tour. They stress that the project condemns all gun violence, whether against profiled persons of color or law enforcement.

For more listings, KBEM provides a calendar of jazz and roots music. For further commentary on Twin Cities jazz, check out the blogs, Jazz Ink, and Bebopified.

Blues, Roots, Other…

Wednesday, May 9

Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League on KFAI and @ The 331 Club, Minneapolis. 5pm (90.3 & 106.7FM), 7pm (331 Club – Tip Jar) The onset of Prohibition in 1920 coincided with with the rise of jazz. The GATL celebrates the music of the time with enthusiasm and virtuosity.

Suzanne Vega @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($45, $50, $60) Vocalist Vega is often credited with starting the folk revival of the 80s. Tonight she’ll be performing both her 1987 album Solitude Standing and her 1992 album 99.9F in full.

Thursday, May 10

The Banjo Hour w/Captain Gravitone & the String Theory Orchestra @ The Hook & Ladder, Minneapolis. 7:30pm ($12 Advance/$15 Door) Eli Hoehn, of Captain Gravitone, will host this two-hour music variety show. Its loosely based on a talk show format, and will include Mother Banjo, banjoists Phil Nusbaum and Tom Nechville, an announcer, several features, and music by the house band.

Friday, May 11

Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys @ Lee’s Liquor Lounge, Minneapolis. 9pm ($12, $15) The Los Angeles – based rockabilly/roots singer and guitarist returns to his favorite Twin Cities venue, where he’ll likely mix in some Western Swing and L.A. doo-wop into his repertoire. The roomy dancefloor will undoubtedly be filled.

Saturday, May 12

New Orleans Suspects, Honey Island Swamp Band @ The Hook & Ladder, Minneapolis. 8:30pm ($25 Advance/$30 Door) If you didn’t make it to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, you can still enjoy the music of that town, with these two groups of outstanding musicians, and special guest Camille Baudoin, formerly of the Radiators. Arrive early, and with a bit more cash, and you can take part in a Crawfish Boil (6-8pm, $45 Advance/$50 Door, includes concert)

The Greatest Generation @ The Ordway, Saint Paul. 7:30pm ($28, $38, $48) The Oratorio Society of Minnesota presents the premier of The Greatest Generation: An American Oratorio. This ground-breaking work combines the great popular tunes of the Second World War era with new original compositions and arrangements to craft and pay homage to the American family at war. Songs will include: As Time Goes By, Embraceable You, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and In The Mood

California Honeydrops @ The Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis. 8pm ($17 Advance/$20 Door) The CA Honeydrops are celebrating ten years together with the release of their 7th album, the double disc Call It Home: Vol 1&2. The album showcases their deep love and understanding of classic R&B, New Orleans rhythms, Memphis Soul, and the blues. Tad Selzer and I will be doing a phone interview with founder Lech Wierzynski at about 3pm Wednesday, May 8 on The Rockhouse. Tune in live or listen to it on the archives.

Commander Cody @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm, 9:30pm ($25) Back in the early 70s, Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen had a hit with a revival of Hot Rod Lincoln. Using a mix of boogie woogie, rock n’ roll, and country music they revived old barn-burners and sang hippie anthems as well as send ups of familiar themes: Mama Hated Diesels, the Kentucky Hills of Tennessee, and Seeds and Stems (Again). Cody and his current band continue to play foot-stomping, good-time music.

Sunday, May 13

Charanga Tropical @ The Icehouse, Minneapolis. 5pm ($5) A late afternoon’s worth of Cuban Dance music, so you can dance off you Sunday dinner.

Wee Willie Walker @ The Minnesota Music Cafe, Saint Paul. 5pm ($?) If you aren’t aware of Walker, see the article in this past Monday’s Star Tribune.

Monday, May 14

JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt @ The Eagles Club #34, Minneapolis. 7:30pm ($5?, $8?) Get out those dancin’ shoes and enjoy the insistent, “its got a good beat” music from Southern Louisiana. It’s an early start, just right for a “school night.”

For a more comprehensive listing of blues (and some roots) events, see the MN Blues Society calendar. For a comprehensive listing of Cajun and Zydeco events, see the Krewe de Walleye calendar.